You don't have to be a math major to figure out how much easier paying for college just got for more than 380 Houston-area students.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo held its annual scholarship banquet this week and awarded $6,088,000 in scholarships to 383 students from Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties.

All but five of the students received $16,000, four-year scholarships. The other five received $8,000, two-year Agricultural Mechanics Technical Scholarships to pursue associate degrees.

The students - all graduating high school seniors - will attend 35 Texas colleges and universities. The money for the scholarships was raised through rodeo events, including the Metropolitan, Opportunity and School Art programs.

These scholarships represent just part of the $18.8 million in scholarships, research, endowments and prizes to calf-scramble participants, junior show exhibitors and other rodeo programs this year. This summer, $2.24 million more in scholarships will be given to Texas 4-H and FFA students.

Some $283 million has been awarded to Texas youths since the rodeo's beginning in 1932.